Book Review: Collision Course by Chuck Gleason

Collision Course

by Chuck Gleason

Collision Course is a warm loving story about two college kids, Lincoln Comstock and Keli Holloway, who get off on a rocky road to romance. In their creative writing course, Lincoln trashes Keli's first offering before the entire class, just to get her attention. Keli is very sensitive about her creative efforts. As a consequence, Lincoln has started his romance by shooting himself in the foot.

Lincoln's persistence pays off eventually as Keli agrees to be friends, just not romantic friends. In their junior year, the friendship endures the student body presidential election in which Keli and Lincoln are actually pitted against each other. After the election Keli finally agrees to go to the Christmas formal as Lincoln's date.

Just as the friendship is turning into love, obstacles get in the way. Can their love withstand a last collision?

Filled with excitement and love, Collision Course is a happy story that will leave readers smiling.

If you like sweet romances with not too much heat, this book is for you! It would be rated PG, if it were a movie.

____________________________________________

Interested in a sample from the first chapter?

Handsome Lincoln Comstock is smitten by Keli Holloway, a willowy brunette classmate who wears her hair in bangs. In a misguided attempt to get her attention, Lincoln makes negative remarks about Keli's short story in front of the class. He gets her attention all right, but it is definitely the wrong kind. The professor breaks up the heated class discussion by telling Comstock that his short story will be the first thing on the agenda next Monday.

For two days Keli planned how to extract revenge against Lincoln Comstock. She actually rehearsed an 'analysis of his story' in front of the mirror to be sure it would be biting and sarcastic. This was hard to do because she hadn't heard his story, but she worked up some very nasty comments. Walking into class she felt totally prepared.

The professor kept his promise. Lincoln was the first to present his short essay. When he finished, the Professor asked, "Any comments?" When no one volunteered the Professor asked, "Ms. Holloway?"

Just as he asked the question, a totally new plan entered Keli's mind. She paused a moment, gave the professor her biggest smile and said, "I'm sorry Professor, I wasn't paying any attention."

"Ah Ha, ignore him. Touché. The ultimate cut. Bravo! Ms. Holloway, Bravo!"

_____________________________________________
 
About Chuck Gleason:

Have we discovered a literary Grandpa Moses?

Author Chuck Gleason is eighty four years young and writing love stories at a prodigious rate. He started dating Janet in 1945 when they were just fifteen. They married in 1950 and are still in love sixty three years later!

Chuck achieved business success selling life insurance. With Janet's help, they developed a two market selling life style. They lived on a Michigan lake in the summer and a Florida island in the winter. Their commute to work was only two seconds. They enjoyed this enviable life style for over twenty five years!

Chuck's speech, Are You Running Your Business or is Your Business Running You? has been delivered in twenty seven states and seven foreign countries.

They have two children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"If you marry your best friend you'll have a wonderful life."

Collision Course can be purchased in paperback at Amazon.com and blackrosewriting.com; it is also available for Kindle, Nook and other ebooks. Visit Chuck Gleason on his website, chuckgleason.com.


Our Thoughts
Just the way I like romance novels - you already know the main characters will end up together, and it's an enjoyable read getting there!  And the story isn't  solely about one couple; you are following several characters.  Now, it says there's "not too much heat" but I think they really mean there isn't any descriptive sex in there.  There's plenty of action going on, though, it's just not described in graphic detail; it leaves more to the imagination.  Which is just fine by me! 

I did really enjoy this book, in fact I enjoyed it so much I read it in one day!  While no time frame is given, you understand it is set in current times based on a few name-drops of current technology.  The trials the couple goes through are timeless; things that can happen to anyone.  The only thing I could suggest - it's not that there is something wrong with the story - the story is great - is that the language - terminology and phrasing - is out of date, as well as how the characters communicate long distance  (email, rather than texts).  If it weren't for the mention of email, cell phones, and the technology name-drops, I'd think this story was set several decades ago; the dialogue between characters is so formal!  But don't let that stop you, it truly is an enjoyable love story with realistic scenarios.

The story is made even better with the addition of Keli's dog, Puff.  I love dogs!!  My only question for Chuck is, did Puff get to ride the snowmobile, or did she have to tag along on the ground?